Earth-auger



UNITED STATi-zs PATENT GFFICE..

ANDREW J. DINE, OF XENIA, INDIANA.

`EARTH-Ancre.

'SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patentl No.` 228,044,4dated May25, 1880. Application filed No'vember 6, 1879.

` form a part of this specification.

Figure l is an elevation, partly in perspective, of my improvedearth-auger, sho wing the handle for turning it, the central rod towhich the other parts are axed, the sheet metal worm or screw forraisingI the earth, the cut-V ting-blade, with its upwardly-projectinglip, the arm connected therewith for regulating the depth of the cut, ascrew -rod for aiding the feeding of the auger, and an arm forsupporting the upper end of the sheet metal worm;

and Fig. 2 is a transverse section, partly in' perspective, of the partsabove enumerated, with the except-ion of the handle.

Corresponding letters denote like parts in both of the figures.

Thisinvention relates to that type of devices which are denominatedearth-angers 5 and it consists in the construction and in thecombination of some of the parts of which it is conlposed, as will bemore fully explained hereinafter.

In constructing implements of this character there is provided a rod, A,which is of any length desired or made necessary by the depth of thehole to be bored, the implement being designed for use principally inthe boring of holes for the reception of fence-posts. To one end of thisrod there is attached, in any suitable manner, a handle, B, for turningthe implement, and upon itslower end there is formed a corkscrew-likeprojection, (l, which is designed to aid in feeding the implement, or inforcing it into the earth as it is turned around.

Upon the rod A, and near or at the lower end of its straight portion,there is aiixed a hub, D, which has extending from it a blade, D',which, so soon as it leaves the hub D, is widened out, as shown in Fig.l of the drawy ings, and is set at such an angle to the horizontal axisof said hub as to cause its upper surface to form a part of the spiralor worm which carries the earth upward, :and at the same time causes itsforward and cutting edge D2 to be its lowest part, so that the act ofcutting or loosening the earth in the bottom of the hole shall causesaid blade to act in combination with the screw G in feeding theimplement.

From the point of. hub D, which is opposite or nearly opposite that towhich the blade D is attached there extends another blade or arm, E, theunder surface of which is in a horizontal plane somewhat above that ofthe cuttingedge oi' the blade D, in order that the depth of the cut ofearth by said blade may be controlled, and the implement, as a whole, beprevented from being too rapidly forced into the earth.

Upon the upper forward points of the cutting-blade D and the blade Ethere are formed or afxed vertical projections F and F', the object ofwhich is to press the earth outward upon the interior surface of thehole, and thus prevent it from falling inward as the implement iswithdrawn, or while it is in use.

For the purpose of providing a worm or spiral passage for giving anupward direction to the earth that is loosened from the bottom of thehole by the blade D', there is secured to its upper rear edge a piece ofmetal, G, preferably of thin steel or sheet iron, because when made ofsheet metal the implement will be of less weight, and consequently moreeasily handled, than it would be if the worm were made of cast metal. Itmay, however, be made of cast metal vand be so thin as not to beparticularly objectionable. From the point where this sheet joins theblade it extends upward in' the form of a worm or spiral until it haspassed several times around the rod or shaft A, where its upper end issecured to an arm, H, which is keyed to the rod for the purpose ofholding it in position thereon.

The blade D being permanently lixed to the rod Aand the intermediatepart G being made of thin sheet metal, while the arm His adjustablyaffixed to the rod, it follows that the pitch of the spiral G may bechanged at'pleasure, and so as to be coarser or finer, as circumstancesmay require, which will be found to be IOO of great advantage in usingthe implement in different kinds of soil, as the earth removed by theblade can by these means be closely packed Within the Worm or spiral, orallowed to merely rest upon the upper surface of each of the coils. ItWill follow7 as a matter of course, that if a cast-metal Worm is usedthe spaces between the coils cannot be changed; but even under suchcircumstances the implement will be found to be useful.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent,

1. The hub D, having upon one portion of its periphery a blade, D',which is at such an angle to its horizontal axis as to cause it to forma portion of the spiral or worm which carries the earth up Ward, saidhub having upon another portion of its periphery a blade or arm, E, theupper and lower surfaces of which are in horizontal planes for thepurpose of preventing the auger from entering the earth too rapidly,substantially as set forth.

2. rIhe combination of the central rod, A, the hub D, blades or arms Dand E, worm C, spiral G, and adjustable arm H, all constructed andarranged for operation substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this21st day ot' October, 1879.

ANDREW J. DINE.

